Easy Dairy-Free Shepherd’s Pie

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This easy dairy-free shepherd’s pie recipe is “technically” a cottage pie since it features ground beef rather than mutton.

The rich, savory filling contains no cream, butter, or milk, and neither does the creamy mashed potato top!

This version of the dish also omits traditional Worcestershire sauce, so it’s fish-free too!

So, not only is it great for people who avoid dairy and fish, it’s kosher too!

This hearty and delicious meat-and-potatoes dish is a cozy and comforting weeknight dinner.

Shepherd’s pie (or cottage pie) is a different kind of meat-and-potatoes dish with a seasoned meat bottom and a creamy mashed-potato top.

Because this recipe contains no dairy and no Worcestershire sauce, it is a great dish for people with those allergies or anyone looking for a kosher shepherd’s pie!

It’s a simple dish that warms up well, making it a perfect weeknight dinner for after school or work and a fantastic shareable for potlucks.

A little about cottage (shepherd’s pie)

While the popular name for this dish is shepherd’s pie, it is actually called that when it contains lamb or mutton (from adult sheep) and is called cottage pie when it contains beef, or ground beef, as in this recipe.

There seems to be some dispute over where these dishes originated—Ireland or Britain—but they are believed to have been created sometime during the 18th century.

What most people do agree on, however, is that the original versions of these dishes were made from leftovers (such as from Sunday dinners) because a lot of people were poor and had to be frugal, so this way the leftover food didn’t go to waste.

While the original recipes for cottage pie and shepherd’s pie contain carrots, I personally do not like cooked carrots (and hate having to pick them out), so I do not put them in the ingredients when I make this dish and consider them “optional.”.

Some simple cooking terms

What does it mean when recipes say “to taste” about an ingredient?

When recipes say “to taste,” it means that you can put in as little or as much as you like to your own taste. Some recipes have many ingredients that a cook can adjust to their own taste when cooking (not so much when baking, though).

The best way to calculate what your taste is with a recipe that you are not yet familiar with is to first taste the dish and then add the “to taste” ingredient GRADUALLY, a little at a time—a splash of this or a pinch of that—until the dish is just the way you like it.

Make sure to stir the ingredient after each time you add it so that the flavor will distribute evenly and become part of the dish. Then taste again. Repeat until you reach your personal preference.

Note: If you plan on using the recipe again, it is highly recommended to make a note of what and how much you added so that you can refer to it next time.

What does it mean when a recipe says that an ingredient is “optional”?

If an ingredient is “optional,” it means that you can add it in or not based on your own preference. An optional ingredient can be flavor-related (i.e., salty, sweet, spicy, etc.), appearance-related (garnish), or even something like nuts or chocolate chips in baking.

What does “savory” mean?

“Savory” refers to foods that are not sweet, such as foods that taste salty, spicy, or herbal.

What does “sauté” mean?

Cooking quickly in a small amount of oil or fat in a frying pan on a relatively high heat that causes a slight browning of the food on the outside.

What is needed to make Easy Dairy-Free Shepherd’s Pie?

I hardly ever meal plan, so I like to keep a cupboard full of seasonings, spices, veggies, and canned goods in my kitchen to use whenever the mood strikes.

But these are all you need to have on hand to make this recipe even last minute!

Additional information

Besides being delicious, the beef and potatoes in Easy Cottage Pie have nutritional benefits.

Want to try other delicious dairy-free ground beef dishes? Try Stuffed Cabbage or Stuffed Peppers.

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Yield: 6 - 8 servings

Easy Dairy-Free Shepherd’s Pie

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An easy-to-make shepherd's pie with ground beef (thus, a cottage pie) made without any dairy or Worcestershire sauce.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef (or ground lamb)*
• 2 pounds potatoes, boiled and mashed
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 8 ounces chopped carrot (1 can diced carrots, drained or 2-3 medium carrots), optional
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, dairy-free
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon oil
• Large splash soy sauce
• 1/2 cup beef stock or chicken broth (or 1/2 cup water + 2 teaspoons beef bullion or chicken consommé powder)

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a sauté pan on a medium heat.
2. Add onion and carrots and cook until tender, mixing occasionally.
3. Add ground beef or lamb and crumble or mash so there are no chunks.
4. Cook until brown. If there is excess fat, pour out.
5. Add tomato paste and the splash of soy sauce and mix well.
6. Pour in beef stock (or water and beef or chicken consomme powder) and mix well.
7. Pour mixture into a baking pan or oven safe casserole dish.
8. Add the mayonnaise to the mashed potatoes (from the ingredient list) and mix well.
9. Spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the meat mixture.
10. Ruffle the potatoes with a fork (optional) and place the pan or dish in an oven that has been preheated to 350°F.
11. Bake for around 30 - 40 minutes or until the potatoes begin to brown a little and the meat mixture is bubbling up through the sides.

Notes

* Shepherd's pie is made with lamb or mutton, cottage pie is made with beef.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 358Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 736mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 19g

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